Our Belief + Mission
Despite the curveballs that life circumstances may throw, everyone deserves a chance to reach their full potential.
The Wood Family Foundation facilitates collaborative relationships between school partners and families that provide
support and opportunities to empower students to succeed in middle school, high school, and beyond.
The Wood Family Foundation’s premiere program, Pitch In, is an after-school model that employs high-quality
mentoring relationships and exposure to unique experiences to ensure that our 4th-8th grade students develop the
academic and social-emotional skills, mindsets, and agency necessary to transition to high school successfully.
Beyond the after-school component of our model, Pitch In deeply engages with our partner schools to
improve the culture of the middle grades (4th-8th grade), adding school-day capacity that aligns to principals’
visions for their school communities, providing access to an abundance of resources, and focusing not only on
our students, but also on their families.
We currently serve Humboldt Park and North Lawndale, and aspire to reach Austin, Englewood, and Roseland in the near future.
The Latest Pitch In News!
Pitch In starts off the New Year with Emerald City Theatre!
January marks the start of our time with our friends at Emerald City Theatre! Pitch In is excited for our 4th and 5th graders to begin working on their plays. This week both groups read
#PitchIn Holiday Spirit
This week Pitch In was blessed with two wonderful holiday celebrations. On Tuesday, 5th grade students presented their project on holiday traditions in a variety of countries that they previously studied. Throughout the month we focused
Where We Play
Pitch In is so happy to be reunited with our 4th graders after a long November break! This month students will dive into Where We Play learning about the many Chicago neighborhoods, research a Chicago
Pitch In Business Plans
The last two weeks of November Pitch In 5th graders worked extremely hard to create mock business plans. Students had to consider their start up costs, materials needed, a business name and logo and work
Business Concepts
Pitch In 5th graders and mentors had a wonderful afternoon together yesterday! Students played an awesome game of kickball and dove into learning about businesses, entrepreneurship and the necessary job skills at a variety of
November
Pitch In students enjoyed warm November weather this week as we played What time is it Mr. Fox and Big Chief! This month our 5th grade curriculum focuses on "Money In The Bank," addressing money
Pitch In Students Create Logos!
Special thanks to Y & R for creating a video that allows us to experience Pitch In student's moving through the creative process while creating their logos! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u2rw-d3UjQ
Halloween Fun
Pitch In students were delighted to dress up in their Halloween costumes for family dinner this week! Costumes included race car drivers, princesses, ghouls, football players, a hot dog and Tina Turner! While celebrating Halloween, students also
Together We Win
Over the past 2 years I have developed extremely special relationships with my mentees. Not only have I formed many new friendships, but I also have began to appreciate what I have as a result of being a mentor. Pitch In has become one of my homes away from home, as I have grown to feel like everyone involved is one big welcoming family.
Pitch In has given my grandson the confidence to lead others and speak in front of groups of people.
Jaylon has made new friends, bonded with his peers and become more independent since joining Pitch In.
I was really blessed and impressed that Kerry and Sarah were both so down to earth, and working in the trenches with all the volunteers. Ever since then, I try to help out and support WFF whenever I can, and mentoring for Pitch In is one way I can help.
I am so grateful to have spent my first school year with our amazing 4th grade students. I look forward to continuing to serve as a resource and positive influence in their lives as they move on to apply for high school. The Pitch In program is full of unbelievably bright, energetic and creative kids—paired with caring, fun, hardworking mentors and staff.